At Birtenshaw, we are always honoured when families share their personal experiences with us. Charlotte, a parent and professional, kindly provided feedback on her son’s first two weeks at Birtenshaw School.

Her words capture the difference that care, inclusion, and specialist provision can make for a young person and their family:

“My son started at Birtenshaw School on the 1st of September, so he has only been a pupil there for two weeks. However, the difference we’ve seen already is incredible. Before my son even began, I was kept fully informed and supported through the settling-in process. Staff members Nikki Russell and Leanne Taylor were fantastic they showed us around the school, made both my son and me feel very welcome, answered all of our questions, and provided us with all the information we needed to help him have a smooth and confident start.

The transport team has also been brilliant with my son. They allow him to take a blanket, some snacks, and his headphones on the bus, which helps him feel safe and regulated both on the way to school and coming home. This small but thoughtful approach has made a big difference to his daily routine and emotional wellbeing. He gets on the bus each day feeling happy and secure.

My son’s 1:1 support staff in the classroom have been excellent at keeping us updated. They fill in a daily communication book that tells us how he has been throughout the day, including his mood, participation in learning, and any other important messages. I can also use the book to pass on messages from home, which are always picked up and responded to quickly. This two-way communication has been so reassuring and helpful.

As a professional who visits many different schools each week, I can honestly say that the sensory rooms and facilities at Birtenshaw are the best I’ve ever seen in a specialist school. From sensory spaces to outdoor areas, access to the gym, and therapeutic swimming, there is always something exciting for my son to look forward to. The variety and quality of provision is outstanding.

Before coming to Birtenshaw, my son’s experience of education was difficult, inconsistent, and traumatic and not just for him, but for us as a family. He spent over a year in mainstream school and then attended two different alternative SEN provisions. It was heartbreaking to watch him struggle and feel like he didn’t belong. That’s why it meant so much when, just this week, my son came home and said, “I love my new school.” That one sentence says everything about the care and commitment Birtenshaw shows to its pupils and their individual needs.

We are already seeing a positive change in my son’s behaviour and routines at home. He’s more settled, more confident, and genuinely excited about school. I only wish he could have started sooner. My son had been on the waiting list for Birtenshaw since last year, and after consulting with 24 different schools, I’m so glad we chose this one. Birtenshaw is a school with strong values and a deep understanding of diversity. It doesn’t expect one size to fit all it allows each child to be themselves and thrive in their own way.

My son now comes home full of stories about his day what he watched on Newsround, what he made for snack time, or what he’s been learning. I even overheard him telling his brother that he got upset and cross about something at school, but then he paused and said, “It’s OK if you sometimes get things wrong, because you don’t have to be perfect all the time at my new school.” That moment really touched me and showed just how much he is already absorbing the school’s nurturing and inclusive ethos.

Thank you, Birtenshaw School, for everything you’ve done so far. Your excellence in supporting children with individual needs and SEN is clear in every aspect from the classroom to the transport team. You’ve given my son a place where he feels safe, accepted, and happy, and for that, we are truly grateful.”

We are so grateful to Charlotte for sharing her family’s story. It highlights the heart of what we strive for at Birtenshaw — to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every young person can thrive in their own way.